The Sports Media Thread

[Easy Mac]

The last article was posted an hour ago. Did they not bother to tell anyone there before then?

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All <a href="https://twitter.com/Grantland33">@Grantland33</a> writers will have their contracts honored; intent is to use sports writers on other <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@espn</a> platforms.</p>&mdash; James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimMiller/status/660158782408949760">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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He makes it sound like they are fulfilling their legally binding contractual obligations out of the goodness of their hearts.

[Subby]

Fuck ESPN. What a fucking clown show. Way to reward horseshit idiots like Bayless and SAS and snuff out the good stuff about your stupid brand.

[nol]

The last article was posted an hour ago. Did they not bother to tell anyone there before then?

No, this was a "people found out via Twitter" kind of deal.

Grantland was always supposed to be 'prestige programming' for ESPN, but it's definitely eye-opening/sad to see the share of their traffic that's from Simmons as opposed to everyone else. It will be even more of a money pit now, but it'll be interesting to see how far ESPN goes in order to passive-aggressively 'win the breakup.'

Six months was the answer there.

[Subby]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Look, guys, this is a business. And our business is miserable idiots trolling people with hot takes they don't even believe.&quot; - ESPN</p>&mdash; Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenTremendous/status/660160371718684672">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Subby]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I loved everyone I worked with at G and loved what we built. Watching good/kind/talented people get treated so callously = simply appalling.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/660163657460875265">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Subby]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Hey, sorry about Grantland. But coming up next: The Fanduel/DraftKings Shouting Hour,&quot; where 8 doughy men shout about YOUR tweets!&quot; - ESPN</p>&mdash; Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenTremendous/status/660165991616278528">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[MikeVic]

Well, I haven't really gone voluntarily to ESPN for a year or two now. But have been going regularly to Grantland. I liked the columns and would have the podcasts blaring while doing stuff around the home.

Are there any decent sports podcasts elsewhere, other than The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Starters (on NBA.com)?

[Logan]

Sorry to Maple Leafs but I'm sure he'll end up somewhere very good once his deal is up.

[Easy Mac]

Yeah, I'm more sad that the podcasts are/will be gone. Mays/Barnwell and Ryan/Greenwald have been missed.

It's more that I'm going to miss having so many good writers no longer being in one place. Having to track them down is more effort than I'm really willing to put in at this point in my life.

[nol]

Well, I haven't really gone voluntarily to ESPN for a year or two now. But have been going regularly to Grantland. I liked the columns and would have the podcasts blaring while doing stuff around the home.

Are there any decent sports podcasts elsewhere, other than The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Starters (on NBA.com)?

Nate Duncan and Danny LeRoux have my favorite basketball podcasts but they get more in-depth and nerdy than Simmons or even Zach Lowe. Here (http://podbay.fm/show/986901174) is an archive of Duncan's podcast and a good starting point would be to check the season preview of your favorite team; he recorded 30 of them with different writers associated with each team.

[JonInMiddleGA]

from the LA Times
Grantland was still up and running as of 11:30 a.m. PDT, featuring articles on interim head coaches, horror-movie monsters, the World Series, Taylor Swift, Todd Gurley, a rock band called Beach Slang, "The X-Files" and lumberjacking.

Unless I'm misremembering things, uh, The National it wasn't.

Honestly, the stuff worth keeping really can be folded into the other properties pretty seemlessly ... IF there's a market for it. Having a separate brand for it at this point doesn't make a whole lot of sense that I can see.

[BishopMVP]

from the LA Times


Unless I'm misremembering things, uh, The National it wasn't.

Honestly, the stuff worth keeping really can be folded into the other properties pretty seemlessly ... IF there's a market for it. Having a separate brand for it at this point doesn't make a whole lot of sense that I can see.Like I said, couldn't care less about the brand, just want to be able to read clean articles. I think Zach Lowe and Sean McIndoe are the only two I'd fight through the regular ESPN interface to read.

Btw, it is a little weird that there's no link to the press release on Grantland's front page. If you just go straight to grantland.com you really would have no idea this happened.

[Chief Rum]

Nate Duncan and Danny LeRoux have my favorite basketball podcasts but they get more in-depth and nerdy than Simmons or even Zach Lowe. Here (http://podbay.fm/show/986901174) is an archive of Duncan's podcast and a good starting point would be to check the season preview of your favorite team; he recorded 30 of them with different writers associated with each team.

Cool, was looking for something like that. I'll check it out.

[Fidatelo]

Gonna miss reading McIndoe, Rembert Browne, and Lowe. They must have known this was coming a bit before this morning though, right? The Rembert Explains article from the 28th states it is his last one, which had me wondering if he was leaving, but they must have known.

[albionmoonlight]

Gonna miss reading McIndoe, Rembert Browne, and Lowe. They must have known this was coming a bit before this morning though, right? The Rembert Explains article from the 28th states it is his last one, which had me wondering if he was leaving, but they must have known.

Rembert was already planning to leave.

[Easy Mac]

Today was Rembert's last day. It's somewhat funny, on twitter you can see Grantland people tweeting about his last day, then maybe 20 minutes later, tweeting about Grantland shutting down.

The sad thing is, ESPN's handling of this will in no way negatively impact their brand in any measurable way.

[APC]

I enjoyed Grantland as much as the next person, but people are already laying on the hyperbole in remembering the site. There was plenty of good to great stuff on Grantland. There were also Reality TV leagues and Carles.

[albionmoonlight]

I enjoyed Grantland as much as the next person, but people are already laying on the hyperbole in remembering the site. There was plenty of good to great stuff on Grantland. There were also Reality TV leagues and Carles.

Yes. The great stuff was great. But not all the stuff was great. Or even good.

[Arles]

It was a nice change of pace from the Stephen A/Bayless/Jemele Hill/Lebatard "gotcha/hot take" programming we normally see from the site. I think it's funny that Jalen and Jacoby were the only real acts from grantland to be formally endorsed/supported, as they were the thing on Grantland most like the tripe normally found on ESPN.

I hope guys like Lowe, Keri and Barnwell go off to other sites - as trying to track them down on ESPN's crap website will be quite the chore. The men in blazer's left and I watch/listen to them more than I did on Grantland. I don't think any of these guys leaving will impact my ability to read/listen to them.

[Maple Leafs]

Hey guys...

I fell behind on this thread. Anything new? We're still talking about sideline reporters, right?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Hey guys...

I fell behind on this thread. Anything new? We're still talking about sideline reporters, right?


{hug}

[sovereignstar v2]

I wasn't even aware of the tie with ESPN lol. I have "liked" like a half-dozen things on Facebook and Grantland was one of them, so I would read a couple of articles on it daily at work. Really enjoyed it, so naturally ESPN would fuck it up.

[Atocep]

from the LA Times


Unless I'm misremembering things, uh, The National it wasn't.

Honestly, the stuff worth keeping really can be folded into the other properties pretty seemlessly ... IF there's a market for it. Having a separate brand for it at this point doesn't make a whole lot of sense that I can see.

The problem I have with espn.com since the redesign is that they're folding everything I found interesting into other properties. This means I have to search to find the stuff that was a click or 2 away. Every single item on the website that I've read regularly for the past couple of years takes more clicks to find than it did in the past. That's an issue that will eventually drive me away from the site.

[MikeVic]

Nate Duncan and Danny LeRoux have my favorite basketball podcasts but they get more in-depth and nerdy than Simmons or even Zach Lowe. Here (http://podbay.fm/show/986901174) is an archive of Duncan's podcast and a good starting point would be to check the season preview of your favorite team; he recorded 30 of them with different writers associated with each team.

Thanks!

[nilodor]

I hope these guys don't wind up behind the insider paywall at espn. I'd miss Lowe, Mapleleafs, Barnwell/Mays and Keri.

[Fidatelo]

Lunch sucks without Grantland :(

[MikeVic]

Lunch sucks without Grantland :(

I know what you mean. It was so nice to have one site where I could access a bunch of good sports columns. I'm sure these guys will all work in the near future again, but it'll be split up among 10 sites and I may not end up reading some of them because I'll just forget. It was nice to be able to go to grantland.com and click on all the various podcasts as well.

[Fidatelo]

Deleted the bookmark from my browser today. Sad feeling.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yeah. It's weird, the last couple of days I just click on ESPN from my bookmarks by instinct more than anything, scroll down looking for Grantland, remember it's gone, and then move on to another site.

[nilodor]

Are there any other sports websites you guys enjoy reading? I used to really like SI but once Peter King got his own site and they had the redesign I've found their writing to be a bit of a tire fire.

Also great tip with the Dunc'd on podcast, I'm working through the team previews and it's just the type of analysis I like to here.

[Logan]

Can't remember the last time I went to the main page of a sports site. I just go directly to articles from Twitter or links on boards like this one.

[molson]

I don't read a lot of long-form sports columns, so I use the sports websites for quick work-break checks on scores, standings, what games are coming up this weekend, bullet-point breakdowns of playoff races and trade rumors and free agents, etc. ESPN still seems to be the best for that purpose, but they're all pretty similar. But, I don't have the same eye for poor web design most others here probably have. I can get what I'm looking for at ESPN and that's enough.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Can't remember the last time I went to the main page of a sports site. I just go directly to articles from Twitter or links on boards like this one.

And simply to prove that we still exist, I'm more in the line of Molson. I check primary sites 2-3 times during the day, accounts for at least 95% of my sports-related web activity.

[stevew]

My biggest beef with ESPN is that it insists on throwing the most garbage mobile player cards. They have virtually no stats or info for the player.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Detroit Lions have been broadcasting their games on the radio on the local FM sports channel, 97.1, for over a decade now.

They recently announced that next year they are switching stations and moving to an AM channel.

It turns out the reason the Lions are making the move is because they demanded that one of the sports talk radio personalities, Mike Valenti, be fired because he's wildly critical of the team. Valenti is part of the afternoon drive talk show and is pretty much the most popular sports radio guy in Metro Detroit. Some people hate him, but it's a pretty popular show.

It's really embarrassing and shameful. The Lions are such a stupid organization. If you don't want to be criticized so badly, stop sucking. In the last 58 years, it's been one playoff win and a great big bag of dicks.

[cuervo72]

Isn't that the AGAIN guy?

[BishopMVP]

Like I said, couldn't care less about the brand, just want to be able to read clean articles. I think Zach Lowe and Sean McIndoe are the only two I'd fight through the regular ESPN interface to read.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some of the clips are still broken, but we just went ahead and published. People in Bristol are working on it, I'm told.</p>&mdash; Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/674288705641824256">December 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Honolulu_Blue]

Isn't that the AGAIN guy?

Yes!

[Julio Riddols]

I'll just leave this here. (http://www.imissgrantland.com/)

[Maple Leafs]

I'll just leave this here. (http://www.imissgrantland.com/)
Huh.

[korme]

i like that

[Logan]

Sports media in one screenshot:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cfxa25JUkAAyqzU.jpg

From [UPDATE: Silver didn’t say this] Adam Silver to North Carolina: Repeal law within 30 days or lose Charlotte All-Star game – ProBasketballTalk (http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/04/11/adam-silver-to-north-carolina-repeal-law-within-30-days-or-lose-charlotte-all-star-game/)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sports media in one screenshot:



From [UPDATE: Silver didn’t say this] Adam Silver to North Carolina: Repeal law within 30 days or lose Charlotte All-Star game – ProBasketballTalk (http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/04/11/adam-silver-to-north-carolina-repeal-law-within-30-days-or-lose-charlotte-all-star-game/)

re: that last version of the link

No Posts Found
It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for.

Which, for some reason, made me LOL

[JonInMiddleGA]

And while not entirely a sports media indictment, this seems to fit somewhere in the story. That hoax story about Silver's alleged threat?

It prompted this response
Atlanta City Council makes pitch for 2017 NBA All-Star Game | 11alive.com (http://www.11alive.com/news/atlanta-city-council-makes-pitch-for-2017-nba-all-star-game/108725552)

edit to add: Point being, I guess, is that if we're electing officials who can't tell the difference (or can't be bothered to verify information) between real & fake, maybe the problem isn't the media but rather the audience.

[ISiddiqui]

Uh... the Atlanta City Council made their pitch for the game before any fake news story about Silver's comments arose.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Uh... the Atlanta City Council made their pitch for the game before any fake news story about Silver's comments arose.

I thought (think actually) the two were in very close proximity.

I find articles citing Silver (allegedly) threatening Charlotte (http://www.joemygod.com/2016/03/25/nba-threatens-to-move-2017-all-star-game-from-charlotte-over-north-carolinas-anti-lgbt-law/) as far back as March 25th.

The Atlanta city council pulled their little grandstand ploy (http://www.11alive.com/news/atlanta-city-council-makes-pitch-for-2017-nba-all-star-game/108725552) back on March 30th


Is the distinction here -- which I missed if so -- that the initial reports about Silver's threats didn't include an apparently phony quote?

[ISiddiqui]

What Atlanta cited is something the NBA actually did say. The fake quote part was the "You have 30 days to repeal the law" aspect. So the officials of the City of Atlanta actually did use the real information. So no indictment of audience is warranted by this example.

[NobodyHere]

ESPN fires analyst Curt Schilling over anti-transgender post - Apr. 20, 2016 (http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/20/media/espn-dismisses-curt-schilling/index.html)

[oykib]

A reporter got what was coming to him after he asked an insensitive question to Draymond Green. (http://www.businessinsider.com/draymond-green-rips-reporter-for-houston-floods-question-2016-4)

After the game, during Draymond Green's press conference, a reporter seemingly tried to get Green to compare the Warriors' performances in Houston to the recent floods in Houston.

The question became garbled before Green interrupted the reporter, and he said, "You asked me about the flood in practice the other day, and I said I pray for the city of Houston, because you don't want to see anyone go through that."

"I feel like you keep trying to get at, like, us hitting threes or something, you're trying to get a controversial statement out of me," he went on, "but you're not, because I feel sorry for the people of Houston."

Green continued, saying: "Stop trying to do that. That's not cool, man. You keep asking me this same question about this flood. These people are losing their lives, losing their homes — don't ask me that, no more."

[JonInMiddleGA]

A reporter got what was coming to him after he asked an insensitive question to Draymond Green. (http://www.businessinsider.com/draymond-green-rips-reporter-for-houston-floods-question-2016-4)

I'm not particularly a fan of Green but given the question I have to at least golf clap for him here.

Well done sir.

[Thomkal]

I might be able to watch MNF with the sound on again...

Report: Monday Night Football announcer Mike Tirico leaving for NBC (http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/report-monday-night-football-announcer-mike-tirico-leaving-for-nbc/ar-BBsfhcI?ocid=ansmsnnews11)

[Logan]

Skip Bayless is leaving ESPN. Seems to be headed to FS1.

[Thomkal]

Skip Bayless is leaving ESPN. Seems to be headed to FS1.

So its a great day all around huh? :)

[Logan]

FS1 Launching "PTI"-Style Show Starring Cowherd, Whitlock (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2016/05/02/fs1.aspx)

[Honolulu_Blue]

FS1 Launching "PTI"-Style Show Starring Cowherd, Whitlock (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2016/05/02/fs1.aspx)

Nope!

[Atocep]

FS1 is doing a great job of helping ESPN get rid of their awful talent.

Hopefully Stephen A. Smith is next.

[albionmoonlight]

FS1 Launching "PTI"-Style Show Starring Cowherd, Whitlock (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2016/05/02/fs1.aspx)

The Webster to PTI's Different Strokes

[cuervo72]

News on a smaller scale, in DC Czaban and Pollin are back together for The Sports Reporters. Happy about this (Chris Cooley now has morning drive time).

[bhlloy]

FS1 Launching "PTI"-Style Show Starring Cowherd, Whitlock (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2016/05/02/fs1.aspx)

At least now if a large piece falls off the ISS and crashes through the atmosphere, we all have a landing spot to root for

[spleen1015]

I miss Czaban on a national show. Kornheiser too.

[Easy Mac]

Kornheiser streams and you can get the podcast on iTunes

[bulletsponge]

FS1 is doing a great job of helping ESPN get rid of their awful talent.

Hopefully Stephen A. Smith is next.

im confident ESPN can find brand new awful talent to fill in the holes

[spleen1015]

ESPN dropping Cris Carter and hiring Randy Moss.

What are thoughts on Cris Carter? I've always liked him and think this is a dumb move by ESPN.

[Thomkal]

ESPN dropping Cris Carter and hiring Randy Moss.

What are thoughts on Cris Carter? I've always liked him and think this is a dumb move by ESPN.

Ray Lewis also out thankfully. I liked Carter-was a mainstay on Mike and Mike, so not sure what they will do now. Haven't really seen Moss on TV yet, but not generally a fan of him on the field. ESPN also added Matthew Hasselbeck and Charles Woodson.

[Bobble]

ESPN dropping Cris Carter and hiring Randy Moss.

What are thoughts on Cris Carter? I've always liked him and think this is a dumb move by ESPN.

I like C.C. and I think it's a poor choice to have him move on. Surprisingly, I found Keyshawn Johnson to be better than I expected. Further, I was surprised that Randy Moss was better than I expected when I heard him on something or other. Lest you think I just like everyone, Ditka was terrible. Stephen A. is abysmal. Skip Bayless is unwatchable.

[Atocep]

I like C.C. and I think it's a poor choice to have him move on. Surprisingly, I found Keyshawn Johnson to be better than I expected. Further, I was surprised that Randy Moss was better than I expected when I heard him on something or other. Lest you think I just like everyone, Ditka was terrible. Stephen A. is abysmal. Skip Bayless is unwatchable.

I never really cared for Chris Carter. I agree with the rest.

ESPN has so much unwatchable "talent" that my time watching ESPN has dwindled to almost nothing. Berman, Vitale, Stephen A., Ditka, Corso, Broussard, and Holtz (and probably more) give me no reason to watch their shows anymore.

[molson]

Bill Simmons' "The Ringer" site went live today:

https://theringer.com/

I don't read a lot of really, really, really long articles unless I'm very interested in the topic already, but I look forward to the podcasts and HBO show. Though I don't think I need to hear Andrew Luck analyze Game of Thrones.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't know I feel about a "Joe Buck is Underrated" article on the first day...

[cuervo72]

Tony Kornheiser to leave D.C. radio after 24 years to launch podcast - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/06/02/tony-kornheiser-to-leave-d-c-radio-after-24-years-to-launch-podcast/)

[bob]

Hmm... Are podcasts monetized enough to pay for him and his staff? I really have no clue.

I know one of his issues with ESPN 980 is the lack of pay for guests, which meant certain long time guests stopped coming on.

[cuervo72]

Some are wondering if this was more Red Zebra wanting him to go, that he didn't fit with the general All Redskins slant that the station has. No idea how much that might be the case.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Bill Simmons' "The Ringer" site went live today:

https://theringer.com/

I don't read a lot of really, really, really long articles unless I'm very interested in the topic already, but I look forward to the podcasts and HBO show. Though I don't think I need to hear Andrew Luck analyze Game of Thrones.

I checked it out. I liked Grantland more or less. There were a few people there that I really liked to read and none of them seemed to have made the jump to The Ringer with Simmons. I really liked a lot of their longer pieces and found most of the TV/movie reviews to be pretty in depth and intelligent.

Based on an early review, I'm not sure The Ringer is quite there yet. Not too many of the sports related stories were that interesting. The movie reviews were short and very bleh. And, while I've been huge "Game of Thrones" fan since 1999, there's just waaaaay too much Game of Thrones stuff on there. I get it. The website is related to HBO and "Game of Thrones" is HBO's only relevant show right now, but still. It's a bit much. Though, that could be said of most of the internet and "Game of Thrones."

[ISiddiqui]

To be fair, there has been a lot more sports articles since Day 1. A whole host of basketball ones came up before the NBA Finals. There was one on the NFL's failure to embrace technology, one about how the Dodgers are overthinking things, and one about the future star midfielders in European soccer: Pogba and Alaba. There is a good one on Julio Jones today.

[Butter]

So did anyone watch "All Takes Matter" or whatever the hell it's actually called on FS1 yesterday? The Cowherd-Whitlock show? Anything noteworthy about it other than it being another "guys yelling at each other" show, only this one with bigger idiots?

[Logan]

So did anyone watch "All Takes Matter" or whatever the hell it's actually called on FS1 yesterday? The Cowherd-Whitlock show? Anything noteworthy about it other than it being another "guys yelling at each other" show, only this one with bigger idiots?

It would probably be good for them to get 10% of First Take numbers, but even with that low bar, I can't imagine how it could draw that large of an audience.

[ISiddiqui]

Never underestimate the number of hate watchers?

[korme]

I saw it's called Speak for Yourself. A number of commentators on Deadspin were rightly pointing out this is terrible timing to debut a hot take show, middle of summer.

[Logan]

The Undefeated Can't Find Anything Bad To Say About Jameis Winston (http://deadspin.com/the-undefeated-cant-find-anything-bad-to-say-about-jame-1781961610)

[Logan]

It would probably be good for them to get 10% of First Take numbers, but even with that low bar, I can't imagine how it could draw that large of an audience.

Not far off. First episode had 94K viewers, or 11.6% of yesterday's PTI audience.

[panerd]

I originally posted this in the Joe Buck thread but it is stuck in the archive...

This felt like the appropriate thread to ask if anyone saw Bill Simmons new HBO show?

I'm a fan of some of Simmons stuff... Love the NFL podcasts especially the cousin Sal, like his takes on sports stuff on Twitter, ignore NBA and Boston rants. All that said what a heap of shit that first show was. It's like he has wanted to cuss for so many years that he just let it all loose like a freshman girl at her first frat party. The bits were terrible, the cussing was out of place, the set was just odd, and I stopped the Afflack thing about twenty seconds in. Anyone enjoy this?

[Neuqua]

I'd call myself a fan of Simmons and agree that show was awful. I'll still watch another couple episodes to let them hit their stride but otherwise I will stick to the Channel 33 podcasts which I have been really enjoying.

[albionmoonlight]

I did not see it.

There's good Simmons, and there's annoying Simmons.

Simmons and Ben Afleck going off on how unfair the world has been to poor Tom Brady? That is some nuclear-weapons grade annoying Simmons right there.

Hopefully, with some of that out of his system, the show will pick up.

His real talent seems to be in attracting and leading talented people. You can't pay him as much as HBO is paying him and not give him a show. But I think that his real value to HBO in not in front of a camera.

[Fidatelo]

I caught the first episode, I thought it was reasonably entertaining. I agree that the swearing seemed unnecessary. I thought the 'bits' were basically lame, but those might improve over time (or get scrapped for something else). I really enjoyed the Barkley interview. Affleck was silly, but I found it enjoyable enough in a 'good grief this is so over the top' kind of way.

[Logan]

I agree with albion's last point. Whether that is $7MM-9MM in value, who knows. Obviously they're paying him a ton but the rest of the costs associated with it would be pretty low. I don't think they'd let him do it forever if it sucks, but they're not risking much by giving him a half hour on a Wednesday night.

I consider myself a fan even though I now find him more annoying than anything. I think it's based on being "with him" forever and now I laugh at (laugh at him, not with him) how his current mindset in his mid 40s and as a multimillionaire still matches his mindset back in the day - which at the time matched my mindset as an 18-22 year old.

It's just entertainment. It's why I like him on podcasts 95% of the time still, because I'm doing something else while listening - exercising, commuting, food shopping, etc. But I have no real desire to sit and watch him be himself for a half hour on a Wednesday night.

I just can't believe those topics are how he chose to launch his show. If it was someone else hosting, he would have KILLED the guy for coming out with a take that already had been beaten to hell two days later. Much less, another segment focusing on something that the country has been sick of for months.

He got a lot of rough reviews and I can imagine it would have been much worse if everyone wasn't as focused on Affleck coming across as such a nut.

[murrayyyyy]

Affleck had to be drunk while that interview was going on.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jL0ouwGCnu4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[stevew]

The ESPN:The Body issue is really getting annoying. I'm not a prude, but I also don't want to login and see Connor MacGregor's bare ass in the middle of the page FFS.

[Thomkal]

some of us might :)

[Subby]

some of us might :)
:thumbsup:

[Kodos]

Would you be complaining if it was a hot woman?

[Suicane75]

Would you be complaining if it was Vince Wilfork. Cause I am.

[ISiddiqui]

Which also brings up the point of why does SI do a "Body Issue" or "Swimsuit Issue"? Is it a sports magazine or a men's life magazine which mostly talks about sports?

[Suicane75]

Hey, why Bill Gates still making magazines?

[Suicane75]

My issue is that every picture and portfolio is essentially the same 3 or 4 poses, which just adds to the redundancy. If you want to show the human body, show the human body. Lemme see Mike Trout in a wide open stance about to hammer a fastball with his dingle hanging out. Lemme see Paige Van Zant trying to lock in an anaconda vice with the groceries on display.

[MikeVic]

Haha I was going to post about the body issue stuff. I don't care if it's men or women, but when I want to spend a few minutes on break at work looking at some news, don't really want those showing up.

[miami_fan]

Which also brings up the point of why does SI do a "Body Issue" or "Swimsuit Issue"? Is it a sports magazine or a men's life magazine which mostly talks about sports?

It is a "begging anybody to click on this link or {gasp} buy a hard copy" magazine. A bunch of people are going to complain about it and two hundred more are going to look to see what all the fuss is about.:D

[stevew]

hxxp://www.espn.com/blog/ombudsman/post/_/id/723/espn-loosens-standards-with-treatment-of-body-issue-photos

I guess we are all oldies cause we object to seeing nudity where you wouldn't expect to see it.

[stevew]

Joe Buck reveals how hair replacement almost ended his career | SI.com (http://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/10/06/joe-buck-fox-book-hair-plugs-surgery-voice)

[miami_fan]

Flipping through the channels today, I passed through FS1 and saw Colin Cowherd doing his radio show. This is the first time I heard or saw his radio show since he left ESPN. It is also the first time I noticed Cowherd at all since the opening of the college football season last year when I saw him on the pre game show. To be fair, I was not a big Herd fan when he was at ESPN, so I would not go out of my way to find him like say Bill Simmons or Dan Patrick among ESPN alums. Just a bit surprised at my "Oh yeah, he does do a radio show" reaction.

[Logan]

Add Chris Broussard to the list...word is he's leaving for FS1.

[Chief Rum]

Flipping through the channels today, I passed through FS1 and saw Colin Cowherd doing his radio show. This is the first time I heard or saw his radio show since he left ESPN. It is also the first time I noticed Cowherd at all since the opening of the college football season last year when I saw him on the pre game show. To be fair, I was not a big Herd fan when he was at ESPN, so I would not go out of my way to find him like say Bill Simmons or Dan Patrick among ESPN alums. Just a bit surprised at my "Oh yeah, he does do a radio show" reaction.

Yea Cowherd moved to LA and now does a morning show for one of LA's biggest sports channels. He follows former direct competitor DP here. I think his show is also played in other markets (like DP), but probably nowhere near as numerous.

[stevew]

Add Chris Broussard to the list...word is he's leaving for FS1.

According to Sauces

[Logan]

HBO is cancelling Simmons' show. One more is airing Wednesday.

[Suicane75]

I feel like a dick for smiling when I read that. But not too much.

[ISiddiqui]

HBO is cancelling Simmons' show. One more is airing Wednesday.

Not really surprised. It was kind of a snooze fest without anything all that interesting going on.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I feel like a dick for smiling when I read that. But not too much.

I outright smirked, so I figure you're good.

[Logan]

I straight up laughed and have no regrets over it.

[SirFozzie]

*shrugs* he doesn't play well with the camera. He plays well with the instant take, like you're talking to your "Boston-sports-loving pop-culture-obsessed friend on the next barstool over".. (and that got watered down a bit when he made it so big)

[Suicane75]

Or he's a fairly shitty journalist who's style was endearing to the right group at the right time and he rode that popularity with the help of a cavalcade of people more insightful and interesting than himself.

Six of one, half dozen of the other. :)

[miami_fan]

I straight up laughed and have no regrets over it.

Ditto.

Maybe ESPN was not the #1 problem in that relationship.

[miami_fan]

ANNOUNCER BEEF!

Cris Collinsworth Laid Into Bill Simmons On Twitter | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2016/11/14/cris-collinsworth-laid-into-bill-simmons-on-twitter/)

[Chief Rum]

ANNOUNCER BEEF!

Cris Collinsworth Laid Into Bill Simmons On Twitter | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2016/11/14/cris-collinsworth-laid-into-bill-simmons-on-twitter/)

What is funny there is I think Simmons is actually right.

[albionmoonlight]

Simmons actually seems like a pretty big Collinsworth fan. And that tweet didn't seem that offensive at all. Surprised that Collinsworth felt the need to respond like that. Maybe it's just a "no publicity is bad publicity" sort of thing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I sure hope ESPN gets over their fascination with politics & controversy sooner than later. Their web page front/headlines has more drama than sports for the past several weeks and it's really getting past tedious.

Several major sports are already barely interesting enough for me to even follow by checking scores, the last thing that behooves me OR the sports OR ESPN is for me to find even more characters that I find utterly unlikable.

[ISiddiqui]

Well, these days it's pretty easy to check scores on an app, so they are likely doing what they can to get page clicks to make money.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well, these days it's pretty easy to check scores on an app, so they are likely doing what they can to get page clicks to make money.

Not from my #$%@#$ desktop while working it ain't.

(not bitching at you, just at them)

edit to add: Plus, I'm not looking for scores by & large at 2pm on a Tuesday. But I'd like to able to check the headlines (the modern equivalent of the old morning sports page) without being forced to deal with the urge to strangle people for something that has no bearing on actual sports.

[cuervo72]

I have to say - I haven't checked ESPN for any headlines for a few years now. Typically I'll go there on Saturday/Sunday to get caught up on football scores, and that's about it.

[molson]

I think I'll be the last person in the world willing to admit I like both ESPN.com and Bill Simmons. Not the Ringer though. That place is a little much. But I still find the blog-style format of the individual ESPN.com sports section the easiest way to keep up with things casually in the shortest amount of time. I've never adapted to twitter, I don't want to hear about all things all day, I want to mostly have my little 10-minute sports breaks and 10-minute news breaks.

[ISiddiqui]

Not from my #$%@#$ desktop while working it ain't.

(not bitching at you, just at them)

edit to add: Plus, I'm not looking for scores by & large at 2pm on a Tuesday. But I'd like to able to check the headlines (the modern equivalent of the old morning sports page) without being forced to deal with the urge to strangle people for something that has no bearing on actual sports.

I have to say - I haven't checked ESPN for any headlines for a few years now. Typically I'll go there on Saturday/Sunday to get caught up on football scores, and that's about it.

I'm with cuervo. I go just to look for scores. I'm sure there are some folks who go for headlines, but I think that's a shrinking breed. I wonder if folks like you, Jon, are just too small for ESPN to cater to these days.

[RainMaker]

If anyone needs a good app, I highly recommend theScore. Easy to get scores/stats from games and their headlines are much more sports oriented.

[albionmoonlight]

If anyone needs a good app, I highly recommend theScore. Easy to get scores/stats from games and their headlines are much more sports oriented.

+1

[Butter]

+2. ESPN tends to freeze on my phone, theScore works without incident.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm with cuervo. I go just to look for scores. I'm sure there are some folks who go for headlines, but I think that's a shrinking breed. I wonder if folks like you, Jon, are just too small for ESPN to cater to these days.

It's certainly a possibility.

In which case I'll shake my fist at them.

[miami_fan]

I think I'll be the last person in the world willing to admit I like both ESPN.com and Bill Simmons. Not the Ringer though. That place is a little much. But I still find the blog-style format of the individual ESPN.com sports section the easiest way to keep up with things casually in the shortest amount of time. I've never adapted to twitter, I don't want to hear about all things all day, I want to mostly have my little 10-minute sports breaks and 10-minute news breaks.

I am with you with ESPN and Simmons in general. There are just times when he gets a bit too sensitive for a guy who takes a lot of shots at others.

[Logan]

Barstool Sports may be off the radar for many here but they seem to be exploding as a brand. This is following their launch of a daily 2 hour Sirius show this week:

PRESS – Comedy Central and Barstool Sports Greenlight The Barstool Rundown Live From Houston Nightly Telecast Week | Comedy Central Press (http://press.cc.com/press-release/2017/01/04/press-comedy-central-and-barstool-sports-greenlight-the-barstool-rundown-live-from-houston-nightly-telecast-week?xrs=eml_010417_cc_press_0)

[miami_fan]

Flipping through the channels today, I passed through FS1 and saw Colin Cowherd doing his radio show. This is the first time I heard or saw his radio show since he left ESPN. It is also the first time I noticed Cowherd at all since the opening of the college football season last year when I saw him on the pre game show. To be fair, I was not a big Herd fan when he was at ESPN, so I would not go out of my way to find him like say Bill Simmons or Dan Patrick among ESPN alums. Just a bit surprised at my "Oh yeah, he does do a radio show" reaction.

Checked in on the Herd show. Rob Parker is on FS1 now. Who knew?

[cuervo72]

Not me. Then again I don't know who Rob Parker is.

[Logan]

Time to officially shut down Deadspin when they get worked by Ted Cruz and it forces their EIC into a Twitter meltdown.

Ted Cruz told to eat shit despite Grayson Allen joke (http://thecomeback.com/ncaa/ted-cruz-told-to-eat-shit-despite-making-a-funny-grayson-allen-joke.html)

The Deadspin EIC Challenging Twitter Haters To Fights In The Octagon Is An Incredible Internet Moment - Barstool Sports (www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/the-deadspin-eic-challenging-twitter-haters-to-fights-in-the-octagon-is-an-incredible-internet-moment)

[Butter]

I thought whoever was running the Ted Cruz account made a pretty funny joke... Deadspin would've been wise to just let it go.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Brent Musberger's final play by play duties will be Jan 31, UGA vs Kentucky basketball.

His best work is certainly behind him but his part in the groundbreaking NFL Today would have made him part of sports broadcasting history if he'd done nothing else.

[miami_fan]

Not me. Then again I don't know who Rob Parker is.

Really? Surprising since his firing came after comments involving your former starting QB.

Rob Parker fired by ESPN after RG3 comments | NFL | Sporting News (http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/4450830-rob-parker-fired-espn-rg3-comments-robert-griffin-iii-blackness-first-take)

[cuervo72]

Well they're not my team, I'm an Eagles fan. And while I try to listen to DC radio as I'm more or less in that market, I can't pick up 980 after dark, which means I can't really listen in the car during the winter.

And I pretty much never watch any of the ESPN shoutfests.

[albionmoonlight]

I thought whoever was running the Ted Cruz account made a pretty funny joke... Deadspin would've been wise to just let it go.

When Ted Cruz hands you your ass on social media, you are best to just let it die quietly.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Really? Surprising since his firing came after comments involving your former starting QB.

Rob Parker fired by ESPN after RG3 comments | NFL | Sporting News (http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/4450830-rob-parker-fired-espn-rg3-comments-robert-griffin-iii-blackness-first-take)

Before going to ESPN Rob Parker worked for the Detroit News for 8 years. He got fired from that gig after asking then Lions head coach Rod Marinelli whether he wished his daughter had married "a better defensive coordinator." The Lions defensive coordinator was Rod Marinelli's son-in-law.

Rob Parker is, always has been, and likely always will be, an ass.

[Honolulu_Blue]

And I pretty much never watch any of the ESPN shoutfests.

Does anybody watch any of these?

I mean, I don't mind PTI from time to time, but that's it. I find the rest of these shows completely unwatchable.

I am incredibly annoyed that the new Stephen A Smith and Max Whoever show is on ESPN at 11 am. That's when I go to the gym. I don't want to watch them when I on the treadmill, or whatever similar shit show is on FS1 at that time. And I don't have that many viewing options.

[korme]

Before going to ESPN Rob Parker worked for the Detroit News for 8 years. He got fired from that gig after asking then Lions head coach Rod Marinelli whether he wished his daughter had married "a better defensive coordinator." The Lions defensive coordinator was Rod Marinelli's son-in-law.

Rob Parker is, always has been, and likely always will be, an ass.

I think that's a perfectly fine call out.

[miami_fan]

The 30 Most Powerful Talents in Sports Media Today | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2017/01/25/the-30-most-powerful-talents-in-sports-media-today/)

Perfect for this thread.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The 30 Most Powerful Talents in Sports Media Today | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2017/01/25/the-30-most-powerful-talents-in-sports-media-today/)

Perfect for this thread.

The top three of that list... smdh.

[CrescentMoonie]

The 30 Most Powerful Talents in Sports Media Today | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2017/01/25/the-30-most-powerful-talents-in-sports-media-today/)

Perfect for this thread.

Jim Rome not even being mentioned seems pretty laughable.

[nol]

I was standing behind Bill Simmons in line to get concessions at a Clippers game last week. He was dressed like a 40-year-old guy trying to get into a club. I think California's changed him.

[albionmoonlight]

I was standing behind Bill Simmons in line to get concessions at a Clippers game last week. He was dressed like a 40-year-old guy trying to get into a club. I think California's changed him.

I've always given him credit for not pretending he isn't famous and that he does not enjoy being famous. His persona started with the whole I'm-just-a-common-fan-like-the-rest-of-you. And I can see that there would be a temptation to try and continue that persona even as he started hanging out with people like Tom Brady and Magic Johnson. Kind of a Jenny from the Block sort of thing.

But he didn't. He still has that highly autobiographical style, but now it's things like "Me and Tony Kornheiser were trying to decide whether to invite Jon Hamm or Mike Tyson to come to dinner with us last night." So he's going to dress like a California rich guy at the Clippers game. But, since he is a California rich guy, it all kind of makes sense.

[stevew]

Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless have their own show, I see. If they would add Broussard and Adam Shefter to it, they could really call it the Shit Show.

[Butter]

In unsurprising news:

Brent Musburger admits he once bet on a game he broadcasted (http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/brent-musburger-admits-he-once-bet-on-a-game-he-broadcasted.html)

[Logan]

In unsurprising news:

Brent Musburger admits he once bet on a game he broadcasted (http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/brent-musburger-admits-he-once-bet-on-a-game-he-broadcasted.html)

He told that story on Pardon My Take a couple weeks ago.

edit: Damn it. I mean, "Pardon My Take had this two weeks ago".

[Chief Rum]

He told that story on Pardon My Take a couple weeks ago.

edit: Damn it. I mean, "Pardon My Take had this two weeks ago".

Sportsdigs had it two weeks before Pardon My Take.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Come on, you knew that was coming.

[miami_fan]

40 Under 40: Sports Media Talents | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2017/07/17/40-under-40-sports-media-talents/)

[JPhillips]

http://deadspin.com/report-radio-host-craig-carton-arrested-in-alleged-2m-1800675539

NY radio host and partner of Boomer Esiason arrested for multi-million dollar fake ticket scam.

[Logan]

Some big local news:

WFAN&rsquo;s Craig Carton arrested on federal charges, official says | Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/wfan-s-craig-carton-arrested-on-federal-charges-reports-say-1.14114237)

[Logan]

Ha beat out.

[JPhillips]

I noticed he wasn't on this morning, but they didn't mention anything about this. Given this is the FBI and likely federal charges, he's pretty well fucked.

[miami_fan]

At least the Feds were nice enough to let them have their anniversary celebration first. Good looking out.

[General Mike]

I noticed he wasn't on this morning, but they didn't mention anything about this. Given this is the FBI and likely federal charges, he's pretty well fucked.

Here's the court complaint

Read the complaint: WFAN&rsquo;s Craig Carton arrested on federal charges, official says | Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/wfan-s-craig-carton-arrested-on-federal-charges-official-says-1.14114467?utm_content=buffere56a6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer)

[albionmoonlight]

Federal court allows for greater sentencing disparity (both for more time and less time) than most state courts.

That said, there is are general guideline that the courts use to start the sentencing analysis (called, not surprisingly, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines).

Assuming that he has no criminal history, and assuming that he pleads guilty, and assuming that the 2 million dollar number is right and assuming that there aren't any other aggravating factors in the case (big assumption; there tends to be at least one or two), then the Guidelines would recommend a sentence of 33-41 months.

Also, federal court is good about forcing fraudsters to pay restitution to their victims. That would mean that as part of any guilty plea, the prosecutor would almost certainly force him to agree to pay back his victims. That becomes an enforceable civil judgment against him (and keeps his victims from having to sue him separately and pay a lawyer to do it).

[albionmoonlight]

dola: Section 2B1.1 for the morbidly curious:

https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2016/GLMFull.pdf

[Arles]

Jemele Hill just got suspended for two weeks from ESPN:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> has just suspended <a href="https://twitter.com/jemelehill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jemelehill</a> for two weeks &quot;for a second violation of our social media guidelines.&quot;</p>&mdash; jamesmiller (@JimMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimMiller/status/917471931301023744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[digamma]

People seem to be making this a Trump thing, but isn't this just ESPN protecting its bell cow? We saw the same thing when Simmons criticized the NFL.

[RainMaker]

Yeah, the two rules at ESPN are you can't criticize the NFL or your fellow colleagues.

[BYU 14]

People seem to be making this a Trump thing, but isn't this just ESPN protecting its bell cow? We saw the same thing when Simmons criticized the NFL.

And when Schilling was warned, then suspended, then fired when he couldn't keep his opinions to himself. They are just following protocol with this and it doesn't just apply to the NFL.

[albionmoonlight]

People seem to be making this a Trump thing, but isn't this just ESPN protecting its bell cow? We saw the same thing when Simmons criticized the NFL.

It will become a Trump thing (much to ESPN's chagrin) when he starts tweeting about it tomorrow morning.

[BishopMVP]

Yeah, the two rules at ESPN are you can't criticize the NFL or your fellow colleagues.I think "When you tearfully apologize to your boss for putting him in the middle of a media firestorm and promise him you learned your lesson don't do it again two weeks later" is also a common workplace rule.

[Logan]

Had no issues with Hill the first time around but she was either incredibly stupid/naive in this case, or she knew exactly what she was doing and what she was trying to accomplish.

[Young Drachma]

She probably wanted some extra vacation days.

[Subby]

On the eve of PFTCommenter and Big Cat's new show on ESPN2, Sam Ponder fires shots.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to the ESPN family <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarstoolBigCat</a> (&amp; welcome to all ur minions who will respond to this so kindly) <a href="https://t.co/AzgfdDx2FK">pic.twitter.com/AzgfdDx2FK</a></p>&mdash; Sam Ponder (@sam_ponder) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_ponder/status/920056799759339521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barstool founder to Sam Ponder in 2014: Stop showing pictures of your ‘ugly kid’, ‘sex it up and be slutty’ | For The Win (http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/10/christian-ponder-wife-sam-ponder-espn-barstool-sports-audio-rundown)

[Logan]

She got the guy wrong, was told he didn't write it, still literally claimed "yes, yes he did", was told again it wasn't him, then changed her argument to "well that is what your employer says, so you own it too" before kind of apologizing.

I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to be painted with the "everything ESPN says, you say too" brush.

I was following the exchange and honestly wondered if she was drunk.

[sovereignstar v2]

What a complete garbage operation ESPN is.

[stevew]

She probably wanted some extra vacation days.

Wanted to make sure they took away pay right before Xmas too.

[Subby]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If u have two epsodes of a TV Show you dont have one</p>&mdash; PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFTCommenter/status/922551490736205824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[miami_fan]

I am curious to see the future graduates of this program.

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/10/23/Media/Sports-Media.aspx

[Shkspr]

I am curious to see the future graduates of this program.

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/10/23/Media/Sports-Media.aspx

You've still got time - the Taco Bell drive-thru is open till 1 AM most places.

[Logan]

News coming out for the replacement of Mike Francesca on WFAN: Chris Carlin (who started as a Mike and the Mad Dog producer), former NY Jet Bart Scott, and Maggie Gray.

I can't imagine a less inspiring choice. I can't see why I'd ever turn that station on, and I actually like Carlin because of his Rutgers connection.

[CrescentMoonie]

Enjoying the final week of Mike & Mike. They were never my thing, but the nostalgia effect is actually working a bit.

[miami_fan]

Disney-Fox deal gives ESPN a local strategy to combat its financial woes - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/12/14/disney-fox-deal-gives-espn-a-local-strategy-to-combat-its-financial-woes/?utm_term=.33dc33212c04)

An overview of the Disney-Fox deal from a sports fan's perspective.

[korme]

This is going to shake up my daily routine.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRf4m6bX0AAlYom.jpg

[ColtCrazy]

Russillo is one of my favorites on the radio as well. That's a shame.

[BishopMVP]

Russillo is one of my favorites on the radio as well. That's a shame.I'm with him though that doing a daily radio show and being asked to stick around more hours to do appearances is a huge grind. It'll be interesting to see where he goes to do it, but once I made my money and had the national profile I'd definitely be more interested in doing podcasts x times a week and appearances where and when you want to.

[Logan]

He's pretty tight with a lot of the Barstool guys. They'd give him his own podcast and ability to do video stuff of his choosing.

[albionmoonlight]

ESPN admits it will “talk to” Peyton Manning about Monday Night Football – ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/01/23/espn-admits-it-will-talk-to-peyton-manning-about-monday-night-football/)

I like Peyton Manning, but I don't see him in the booth working well.

[molson]

I like Romo's goofball approach and Manning could deliver even more of that if he is comfortable in that environment. Would be a refreshing change from the bland tone most networks have seemed to prefer the last 10-20 years, as the older guys with personalities have been weeded out/retired.

[molson]

WEEI cancels live programming for mandatory sensitivity training (https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2018/02/14/weei-cancels-live-programming-for-mandatory-sensitivity-training?cid=bdc_app_push)

So just a couple of weeks after the one WEEI host insulted Brady's daughter, another one mocked Brady's agent by using a stereotypical Asian accent. So WEEI cancelled all live programming Sunday so all the hosts can attend sensitivity training.

WEEI used to be kind of popular for being a cesspool, in that that was their gimmick, but the act has been growing old forever

[miami_fan]

WEEI cancels live programming for mandatory sensitivity training (https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2018/02/14/weei-cancels-live-programming-for-mandatory-sensitivity-training?cid=bdc_app_push)

So just a couple of weeks after the one WEEI host insulted Brady's daughter, another one mocked Brady's agent by using a stereotypical Asian accent. So WEEI cancelled all live programming Sunday so all the hosts can attend sensitivity training.

WEEI used to be kind of popular for being a cesspool, in that that was their gimmick, but the act has been growing old forever

Doesn't the sensitivity training really boil down to not making fun of Tom Brady's family and friends? I feel like making jokes at the expense of the region's most popular athlete is more concerning for WEEI than making fun of kids and Asians.

[molson]

Doesn't the sensitivity training really boil down to not making fun of Tom Brady's family and friends? I feel like making jokes at the expense of the region's most popular athlete is more concerning for WEEI than making fun of kids and Asians.

Ya, maybe that's why these incidents seem to be sticking more than all of the other offensive stuff that came out of this station over the years. But they have lost advertisers before, at least temporarily.

But, I'm always surprised just how loud the anti-Brady contingent in New England is. I think these people are disproportionately likely to call into WEEI and complain, but there's always been a small but nosy group of fans ready to move on from Brady, basically since he's been there. So there's always been a little element of that on WEEI that the hosts have played into.

[heybrad]

Here's the real issue (from the article):

"In the fallout over the past week, WEEI has had at least five advertisers, including Comcast Corp., Citizens Bank, and the Massachusetts State Lottery, suspend or terminate commercial purchases with the station."

[miami_fan]

In related news...

Patrick Connor suspended from KNBR job over Barstool Radio comments (http://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/patrick-connor-suspended-knbr-over-barstool-radio-comments.html)

Let me say this upfront. I don't listen to WEEI nor do I listen to Barstool Sports. I may be completely wrong on my perception of them, thus being off on what their brand is. Here is the part of this story and the WEEI story that confuses me.

To start Wednesday’s edition of Dialed-In, Braden talked about Connor’s comments about Kim, apologized, proclaimed that Barstool wasn’t a “gutter brand,” and vowed to do better in the future.

I don't know how this person defines "gutter brand" but aren't these comments and the comments made about Brady's daughter and agent consistent with the brand Barstool and WEEI trying to sell?

[ISiddiqui]

Seriously. If Barstool isn't a gutter brand, what is?

[molson]

Barstool is definitely gutter brand.

I think younger, douchey people with a more modern media presence (like on the internet) get away with more than middle-aged or older people associated with traditional media outlets. Maybe with older people, it's assumed they're more sincere and say what they think, where with younger people, there's this hedge that this is really just all a part of the show and they're just trying to be entertaining.

[Logan]

It was a dumb thing for Braden to say because Barstool's founder and head of content literally says consistently that he (they) "live in the mud". Unlike many others though, they freely admit it and don't claim to be something they're not. Other companies/personalities frequently get on their high horse and claim moral outrage all while, deep down, being no better or actually being way worse.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Mike Patrick existing ESPN after 36 years.

Not quite sure what to make of the manner/timing of the announcement honestly. On the one hand it feels kind of like he got "creative has nothing for you", on the other hand there's a certain feel as though there could be some health/personal reason for it.

Whatever the case, he sure spent a lot of time in my ears through a very long career.

[JPhillips]

Sounds like Francesa is coming back to WFAN afternoons and the other afternoon folks are going to split time from 10 to 3. His first show is going to be completely unbearable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sounds like Francesa is coming back to WFAN afternoons and the other afternoon folks are going to split time from 10 to 3. His first show is going to be completely unbearable.

Then again, he's reportedly crawling back at a "significant pay cut" so while he's busy destroying staff morale, I'm not sure how much he has to crow about ... at least not until he gives the station a daypart win that his replacements failed to deliver.

I'd expect him to get that based on the freakshow aspect of his return alone, followed by a slide back down in numbers & a second "retirement" within a year.

[Logan]

I love this. He thought people would be lining up to throw millions more at him than he was making at WFAN and boasted about how he could create the most profitable podcast of anyone. Now his plan is supposedly to develop a Mike and the Mad Dog app which he thinks people will just sit on all day watching old videos, not realizing that it's the sharing of that content across the internet and Twitter that makes it much more entertaining than just literally watching old clips.

It will be entertaining for a few days before it devolves into the same crap he had been doing for a few years before the final leg of the last run.

[albionmoonlight]

He's 60 something years old, a millionaire (unless he's blown his money), and he just finished a, like, two-year ass-kissing retirement tour. And it wasn't enough. What an emotionally stunted weirdo.

[Logan]

He's 60 something years old, a millionaire (unless he's blown his money), and he just finished a, like, two-year ass-kissing retirement tour. And it wasn't enough. What an emotionally stunted weirdo.

In a slight nod of fairness to him, despite his age, he has a few young kids. So I understand his desire to stay out of the house.

[albionmoonlight]

NSFW Audio.

McAfee is a funny dude.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Please take a moment to listen to Pat McAfee explain how Troy Polamalu ruined his life <a href="https://t.co/Wx9X39UrSx">pic.twitter.com/Wx9X39UrSx</a></p>&mdash; NFL Access (@NFL_Access) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_Access/status/925944073302790144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[BishopMVP]

Great story by McAfee.

Seems like Francesa's return had one silver lining in that it caused Michael Kay to go off the deep end over A-Rod being the first guest (and violating ESPN's policy on employees giving interviews to major market competitors.)

[Logan]

Peter King is leaving SI/MMQB for NBC Sports full time.

[albionmoonlight]

Peter King is leaving SI/MMQB for NBC Sports full time.

Big news.

Pushed out by SI? Or just ready to move on?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Big news.

Pushed out by SI? Or just ready to move on?

Looking to reduce his own workload apparently

https://thebiglead.com/2018/04/30/its-decision-week-for-peter-king/

[cuervo72]

This is good.

Daniel Snyder sells WTEM-AM, taking Redskins out of radio business - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/daniel-snyder-sells-wtem-am-taking-redskins-out-of-radio-business/2018/05/21/1d931404-5d18-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html)

[miami_fan]

This is good.

Daniel Snyder sells WTEM-AM, taking Redskins out of radio business - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/daniel-snyder-sells-wtem-am-taking-redskins-out-of-radio-business/2018/05/21/1d931404-5d18-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html)

Are you sure that you want Snyder more involved in the day to day operations?

I thought that was part of the problems he became hands off.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Interesting (for me) to note that DawgNation is said to be the only part of their verticals that will stay up, being shifted into their Atlanta local operations (which include the #1 broadcast TV station in the market, as well as the newspaper).

Cox Media to shut down sports verticals Land of 10, SEC Country, DieHards, lay off numerous staffers (http://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/cox-media-shuts-down-sports-verticals-lays-off-numerous-staffers.html)

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Vol Network tonight announced the passing of legendary broadcaster John Ward.

Sigh.

Rest in peace.

[miami_fan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/28/darren-rovell-his-move-espn-action-network-theyre-buying-me-brand/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9e5c210dc1e0

[Butter]

Reporter says Nationals threatened his credentials because he violated Darren Rovell's "exclusive rights to a sandwich" (https://awfulannouncing.com/food/reporter-nationals-credentials-darren-rovell-sandwich.html)

[cuervo72]

Sources -- Kawhi requests Magic-Buss meeting (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27076486/sources-kawhi-requests-magic-buss-meeting)

Ok, props on the headline.

(I don't follow the NBA really, so maybe it's been done before but it got my attention.)

[JPhillips]

ESPN is reporting that Teddy Bruschi had a stroke.

[JonInMiddleGA]

After 5,060 consecutive games, 81 year John Sterling took yesterday off.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/sports/baseball/john-sterling-yankees.html

[miami_fan]

Sportswriter Jonah Keri granted bail following assault charges | CTV News Montreal (https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/sportswriter-jonah-keri-granted-bail-following-assault-charges-1.4515192?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

[albionmoonlight]

Don Banks Passes Away (https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/nfl/don-banks-longtime-nfl-reporter-dies-at-57-1818583/)

[miami_fan]

It was a Monday tradition for me to read his column along with Peter King's during my Monday lunch hour.

RIP

[albionmoonlight]

The best tribute I think I can have for him is that for as much as he published, I know nothing about him personally.

In a time when the story is almost as much about the reporter as the reported (see, e.g., the fact that we even have a sports media thread here), he was a nice throwback to just giving us the story without a six-paragraph lead-in about what it was like for him growing up as a Dolphins fan or whatever.

[albionmoonlight]

Crazy story from New Orleans.

WWL Radio personality Seth Dunlap is openly gay. The WWL official media account tweeted out a gay slur at him. The thought at the time was that someone who worked for the station meant to send it from a burner account but accidently sent it from the WWL account.

Well, some investigation later, and WWL has turned the case over to the police, claiming that Dunlap sent the tweet himself in order to extort the station.

WWL Radio claims Seth Dunlap sent homophobic tweet, then demanded $1.8M, NOPD report says | Crime/Police | nola.com (https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_822c6b1a-e06e-11e9-bcb8-13e8fb604dc4.html?fbclid=IwAR2QHEtys10vO_vdHLRzwoFCz9yLz9rAYAE_AA_hVf0XaQGvDQzU406zAYw)

[SirFozzie]

and Dunlap has already passed a polygraph saying he had nothing to do with it.

[Atocep]

John Hollinger leaves the Grizzlies front office to go back to writing and joins the Athletic. I subscribed a month ago and I think it's easily been worth it.

[spleen1015]

The Athletic is awesome. They've started video content that is awesome too. The latest with Shaq is good shit.

[Fidatelo]

I got a subscription to the Athletic at the start of the NHL playoffs last spring. Almost all I read is Jets articles and I still consider it 100% worth the price. Phenomenal content.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I love The Athletic. Easily my go-to site/app for sports info.

[molson]

I also love the Athletic, but worry about it's business model. I hope subscription-based online content can work in both news and sports though.

[Maple Leafs]

They're OK I guess.

[molson]

They're OK I guess.

I love me some Down Goes Brown. That guy is prolific!

[QuikSand]

I love me some Down Goes Brown. That guy is prolific!

same same

[QuikSand]

I guess this is the right thread to post about the downfall of Deadspin.

httpx://drewmagary.kinja.com/this-is-how-it-s-gonna-work-1839505029

"Stick to Sports"

[JonInMiddleGA]

Having now looked up the basis for the kerfluffle, I tend to think "good riddance".

The number of times in my life I've wanted non-sports intruding on sports coverage I can count on one hand. (The World Series earthquake comes to mind, and I think maybe there was some sporting event on when Bin-Laden was killed ... aside from that, umm )

[ISiddiqui]

It's Deadspin. No one read it just "for sports". It was always read for what the writers found interesting, amusing around sports as well as sports related reporting.

Trying to make it into The Sporting News is just idiotic.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's Deadspin. No one read it just "for sports".

I've never once intentionally looked at it for anything that wasn't sports related*.

I'd be considerably happier if ESPN issued a similar edict and anyone who wanted to do something else would follow suit.

If writers want to be working at Vice or Vox or Mother Jones or whatever then by all means, I think they ought to go do that.


*(phrased that way because I can't absolutely swear at some point I haven't looked at something non-sports there via a tweet or fofc linkage or whatever)

[JPhillips]

I don't understand the economics of it. There are already a ton of places like Bleacher Report, but Deadspin was a little unique. Unless the people who left are lying about traffic and revenue, I just don't see how making it less unique will lead to greater profits.

[ISiddiqui]

If writers want to be working at Vice or Vox or Mother Jones or whatever then by all means, I think they ought to go do that.

They were. It was called Deadspin.

[JonInMiddleGA]

They were. It was called Deadspin.

"Sports News Without Access, Favor, or Discretion"

That's their own site header.

If it says wrestling on the marquee, I expect wrestling.
If it says sports news on the marquee ...

[ISiddiqui]

And talking about how culture and politics insect with sports sounds EXACTLY like "Sports News Without Access, Favor, or Discretion".

Esp the without discretion part. You can be all "by the book" about sports if you don't have access or favor, but without discretion means something else.

[molson]

No more articles about whether the Pope masturbates?

[Butter]

Their new CEO is a right wing snowflake is how I took all this news. It's a shame

[JonInMiddleGA]

And talking about how culture and politics insect with sports sounds EXACTLY like "Sports News Without Access, Favor, or Discretion".

Esp the without discretion part. You can be all "by the book" about sports if you don't have access or favor, but without discretion means something else.

All that horseshit has nothing to do with "sports".

It may have to do with the various nutjobs playing sports but, honestly, the games existed before the current crop of misguided, misbegotten oxygen thieves that overpopulate the coverage in many places today.

I'm not just "shut up and dribble", I'm decidedly more "please shut the FUCK up and dribble."

[JPhillips]

Deadspin was always sports and... That’s been their brand and readers went there because of it. Seems unlikely to me that they will be as successful as just another sports site indistinguishable from all the others.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah stories about the people who play sports or what happens in the stands during games are stories about sports. Sorry, but it just is.

If you want stories about sports are platonic events without talking about the players lives, may I suggest historical documentaries about sporting events... But even those discuss what was going on to those players and the societies in which they lived.

Maybe you should just stop watching sports.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[cuervo72]

Jon - the site wasn't for you. But that's ok, that's how the internet works - you don't like a site, don't go to it. Find something you do like instead. Plenty of people liked Deadspin, and liked that it covered topics (big sports, wrestling, boxing, cereal, celebrity, sex, music, brain trauma, parenting, whatever) that other outlets wouldn't touch. And they did so without being afraid to get feedback from -- and interact with -- their readers.

Their new CEO is a right wing snowflake is how I took all this news. It's a shame

But yes, this. This is a case of someone buying something they didn't like, and rather than leaving well enough alone they insisted on changing what it was (or flat out killing it).

[PilotMan]

I loved Deadspin. I've been reading it for the better part of 10 years at least. I have a feeling that it's spiritual successor will show up somewhere else before too long. Kinja still has some quality blogs, but the demise of Deadspin leaves a substantial hole in the product.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I loved Deadspin. I've been reading it for the better part of 10 years at least. I have a feeling that it's spiritual successor will show up somewhere else before too long. Kinja still has some quality blogs, but the demise of Deadspin leaves a substantial hole in the product.

Agreed.

[albionmoonlight]

https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article237072729.html

[JonInMiddleGA]

Maybe you should just stop watching sports.


Or maybe the uber-left agendas should be left out of sports by anything that pretends to be sports media. And that's 99%+ of the worthless drivel that's generated when sports coverage tries to get into anything else.

All I'm left with is an increased number of CEI's to wish for.

[Subby]

There's a twitter feed (@undeadspin) that is aggregating the feeds of everyone who left.

Stick to sporks.

[miami_fan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/11/07/cris-carter-fox-sports-part-ways-after-reported-disagreement-about-his-role/

Fox Sports announced Thursday that it parted ways with Cris Carter, co-host of the “First Things First” morning show on Fox Sports 1.

I just started watching (not listening to) this show at the gym.

[PilotMan]

I loved Deadspin. I've been reading it for the better part of 10 years at least. I have a feeling that it's spiritual successor will show up somewhere else before too long. Kinja still has some quality blogs, but the demise of Deadspin leaves a substantial hole in the product.


Well, Drew Magary showed up on Vice two days ago. Knew it wouldn't take long.


{edit: May not be a perm gig, he also shows up on a new site from Medium too.}

[miami_fan]

I wasn't sure if this should go in this thread or the college football thread.

CBS exits SEC football negotiations, ESPN/ABC likely to take over after 2023 (https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/cbs-exits-sec-football-negotiations-espn-abc-likely-to-take-over-after-2023.html)

[ISiddiqui]

Wow that's massive!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[spleen1015]

From the Athletic:
Starting in December and ending on Opening Day, we at The Athletic will count down the 100 greatest baseball players by publishing an essay on a player every day for 100 days. In all, this project will contain roughly as many words as “Moby Dick.” Yes, we know it’s nutty. We hope you enjoy.

Starting reading them today. Pretty good stuff.

[Atocep]

From the Athletic:
Starting in December and ending on Opening Day, we at The Athletic will count down the 100 greatest baseball players by publishing an essay on a player every day for 100 days. In all, this project will contain roughly as many words as “Moby Dick.” Yes, we know it’s nutty. We hope you enjoy.

Starting reading them today. Pretty good stuff.

This series and the McGinn Files articles on NFL players scouting profiles before the draft have been among my favorites on The Athletic.

[Atocep]

The Gammons article on Jeter and Larry Walker getting into the HoF is the first bad article I've read on The Athletic.

[bhlloy]

I love the Athletic as much as ever, but I wish they would stop trying to push video and podcasts on me. Makes me worried they will be the latest decent sports website to move to a medium I just don’t want my articles in.

[spleen1015]

How are they pushing that on you? I see the content off to the side, but I can still get to everything I want without any interference.

[Subby]

Keith Law writing for The Athletic now - that's a big get for them. That paired with their reporting on the Astros cheating scandal have made the site a must-have subscription.

[Lathum]

Not sure how many listen to the Dan Lebatard show but I’m at the bar at the Clevelander where they broadcast from and just met Billy Gil. Really nice guy. Took a few minutes of his time to chat with me.